Choosing a leaf blower may be hard, but before you even embark on your chase for the perfect device, you must identify what you are looking for.
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Contrary to the common practice of top 5 lists, there will be no tips in this article. Instead, we will ask crucial questions to help you pin point what you should be looking for in a leaf blower. We will also expand upon them by providing examples of why exactly are these questions crucial.
We shall not delve into technical specifications, nor will we advise you what to buy. Our intention is to critically examine your expectations and adjust them to ensure that you emerge as a more informed consumer.
Take our quiz
Too much choice can sometimes feel overwhelming. If you do not know where to start, the following short quiz will lead you to a selection that matches your needs.
What is your budget?
There are leaf blowers for all the budgets
A leaf blower is an investment — In exchange for your money, you reduce the time spent maintaining your property and preserve your physical condition. In other words, it is a quality of life enhancing product. And as with any other product, quality may come at a cost.
Do you have enough money to buy a quality device?
Or on the other hand, aren’t you overspending on a leaf blower that goes way above what your requirements are?
To get the best leaf blower for your landscaping needs, and before rushing to the nearest sale and buying whatever has the largest percentage written on its price tag, make sure that you have found a balance between these two questions.
What is the size of your property?
There’s a lot of work to be done here… most likely without electricity
The size of your lawn is a limiting factor. It acts as a threshold and, in general, will be directly correlated to both the price and the size of your leaf blower. We shall illustrate this in the following example.
Electric leaf blowers require a source of electric current to operate.
- Corded leaf blowers — Are directly connected to a power outlet with a cord.
- Battery-operated blowers — Include a battery.
We can easily draw the conclusion that, unless you have a portable generator (opens in a new tab), the cord length limits the area that can be covered—Thus, it is necessary to invest in a cordless device if you have a large lawn. But that is not all—the cordless leaf blowers are also limited by the area due to their battery life!
As demonstrated, the property size which you wish to operate can solely determine which leaf blowers are simply not suitable.
Can you handle the work load?
Leaf-blowers can get really heavy, with some models weighing up to dozens of pounds. In general, the more powerful the leaf blower, the larger and heavier it will be.
Are you able to carry around a backpack blower? Maybe not, if your physical condition is compromised by illness or age. A handheld blower might be a better option for you. Or maybe it’s time to take a break from carrying things all together and invest in a walk-behind unit. Your back will thank you for it.
Can you deal with the noise?
Leaf blowers can impair hearing
Leaf blowers can be annoyingly loud. Everybody knows that. But it doesn’t take a fussy neighbor to force you back to the rake—Leaf blowers may impair your hearing as well. Even though the larger gas chugging motors offer blowing power that will sweep everything in its way, the noise levels generated are simply incompatible with human ears.
It is wise to consider the noise rating of your device to prevent an unpleasant surprise for both of you and your neighbors.
Make sure that the noise and type of engine does not break any regulations in your area.
Lastly, remember that hearing protection should be worn regardless of the size of the leaf blower!
Will you take care of your device?
Gas-powered blowers require more maintenance than electric ones
Unlike a rake, a leaf blower requires maintenance. The level of care is ultimately decided by the design of the device, and most importantly by the type of engine it uses. Gas powered blowers tend to be needier, since they require you to prepare and store gasoline, which requires both time and space.
Furthermore, oiling, tightening and cleaning must be regularity conducted to prevent cumulative damage. And that’s not even taking into consideration mulching devices, which can take up to an hour to properly clean. Make sure you are committed to do so before a rash purchase.
Do you know how to choose a leaf blower?
Let’s assume that you know exactly what you are looking for. After all, that’s what we have been establishing during the entire article. But how are you going to find it?
Are you familiar with all the technical aspects of a leaf blower?
Can you determine if it is suitable for your needs?
Do you know the difference between CFM and MPH? And what the heck is blowing force?
The topic is trickier than it may seem and some common misconceptions will waste both your time and money. There is no way of getting around it—you simply must educate yourself.
